Deadliest U.S. mass shootings

FUNERAL FOR JESSICA REKOS — The casket of six-year-old Jessica Rekos is carried to St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown, Conn. Rekos was one of the 20 children killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on Friday.(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times, Dec. 18, 2012) Inset Adam Lanza.

By Staff Writer

Congressman Alcee L. Hastings made the following statement on the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.: “The massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary, which is located on a hill in Newtown Conn., makes the so called ‘Fiscal Cliff’ look like a molehill. Those of us in Congress are at odds about money, while all around us un-necessary guns are proliferating our nation, and helping our society to crumble. We can’t do everything to stop gun violence. But, we can and we must do something, and we must do it now!

“Here are a few things that we can do: Ensure that owning a gun be protected as stated in the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Assault weapons should only be in the hands of or sold to no one other than military and police officials. We must enhance the ‘Cops in School Program,’ and provide security officers to every Public School in America. We should make conflict resolution part of school curricula. Require background checks where any weapon is sold. Require everyone to be taught relevant gun safety when purchasing a weapon.”

Congressman Alcee L. Has-tings serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee, Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Democratic Chair-man of the Florida Delegation.

Newtown, CT.— A shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., and a home in town left 28 people dead — including 20 children — according to law enforcement sources. The gunman has been identified as 20-year-old Adam Lanza, who killed himself.

The incident began at about 9:40 a.m. EST at the school in Newtown, a town of about 27,000 people. Stephen Delgiadice told reporters that his eight-year-old daughter heard two big bangs and teachers told her to get in a corner. His daughter was fine.

Speaking at a televised news conference from Newtown, Conn., State Police spokesman Paul Vance substantiated the death toll, making this the deadliest shooting since the Virginia Tech rampage in 2007.

Sources said, the tragedy began with a dispute with the principal. Some of the staffers were shot first, then the gunman press forward to a class-room, shooting.

The gunman entered the school and fired at students and staff in one section – two rooms – at the school, according to Vance.

“We have a deadly combination of culture of violence and neglecting the mentally ill. The majority legislature praise people “standing their ground” with guns and defund the state mental hospital. We have to do better.”—Florida Senator Christopher L. Smith, District 31

Twenty school children asserted dead at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown. Six adults were dead at the scene as was the gunman. Nancy Lanza, 52,was found dead at what Vance described as “a secondary crime scene” in Connecticut, bringing the total to 28, including 20 children and the gunman, Connecticut State Police said Friday.

Nancy Lanza was her son’s first victim, shot to death in the roomy home they shared.

After that Adam took his mother’s car and some of her guns, went to the Sandy Hook Elementary School, where he forcefully entered the building and opened fire, killing 20 children and six adults before turning a gun on himself.

“Our thoughts, prayers and condolences are with the families of the Newtown, Connecticut community. The safety of our students is our highest priority. The District has safety measures in place to facilitate a safe teaching and learning environment. We continuously review our security protocols for our school campuses.”

“It’s alarming, especially in Newtown, Conn., which we al-ways thought was the safest place in America,” Delgiadice said.